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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1984-03-28, Page 1E z • • a 4n, • • • 6 incorporatllig THE BAYFIELD BUGLE iso - Clinton-and_Baylield councils-. have_ botILL: • turned„down a resolution from the Town of Goderich asking them to reconsider the proposed expenditures by the Huron County Road Committee. On March 1, Huron County Council approved that $300,000 additional tax dollars go toward maintaining roads in the county. Council a1so approved • the : Fold department's $5 million plus budget, which has the county paying $1,862,000 (a five per cent increase). A letter signed by Goderich Clerk - Treasurer Larry McCabe objecting to the increase in the County Requisition gave a resolution passed by Goderich council. The resolution said that while provincial guidelines in 1984 suggest* a five per cent guideline, the county mill rate presently reflects an increase to the Goderich of ose Goderich re :approximately_Japer cent...The resohition suggested similiar increases in other county urban and rural municipalities. Bayfield Reeve Dave Johnston said, "The effect to Bayfield isn't that drastic but it is 11.3 per cent," He explained to council that last year 13ayfield gave 10 cents of every dollar toward -roads and that this year it would go up to 11 cents. Spend a penny today and save a dollar tomorrow, was Reeve Johnston's reaction to the road budget increase. "The roads on the other side of Brucefield are a prime example of roads being let go," Reeve Johnston added, "I don't see an alternative." Councillor Lloyd Huffman opposed the Goderich resolution. "I feel the roads need repairing. Goderich is out of line. I don't go along with this letter," he said. Hayfield -courted, Voted unaninfously-'W turn down the resolution. In Clinton the proposed increase is even lower, less than 6 per cent. Assistant Clerk Marie Jefferson told council that Clinton got a break this year because the provincial equalization factor was reduced and the town's cloudy- road rebate was increased $3,500. Councillor Jim Hunter noted that without $300,000 extra count road budget, Clinton's budget rate would have decreased. "This could have saved the ratepayers some money," he said. Councillor John Deeves suggested that Goderichcouncil opposed the county budget increase since, "the problem is that Goderich has no county road in their boundaries." He supported the move to finance extra uest ineyto--maintain the- countr-s—rosid*•.-1 About $30,000 is spent on maintenance for 1 km. of road a year, while rebuilding would cost approximately $140,000. County engineer Bob Dempsey has suggested several reconstruction projects with the additional $300,000. Proposed work • intlides. reconstruction Of Comity Road 13 from Clinton to Bayfield and reconstruction of Wroxeter's main street. The $300,000 is in addition to the road department's $5 million budget. Of that budget the county pays $1,862,000 while the remainder is subsidized by the ministry of transporation and communiucation. Councillor Jim Hunter reminded Clinton council that the $300,000 addition is above the grant ceiling and cannot be subsidized. "This is very expensive money," he noted. Separate board turns down French Immersion Expensive costs concerned school board trustees By Stephanie Levesque The bottom line was dollars, and oe4ts when the Huron -Perth Separate' Se11001- Board turned down a French Immersion • pilot project on Monday by a 9 - 5 recorded vote. Board chairman Ron Murray gave an impassioned plea to the crowded board room telling the 40 people there that the board cannot afford such a program. At times the. chairman, and ,Stratfonl trustee- Ron-M-arty,-nrett-Shiiiittrig as they argued over cost factors for Fiench mersion. • Discussion of French Imnaersiggg to a slow start when Mr. Marcy, as chair- man off the finance committee, introduced a motion to set up a two-year pilot project at St. Mary's Separate School in Goderich • forKindergarten and Grade 1. Mr. Marcy said the cost of introducing a pilot project would cost almost $43,000 for the first year and $62,000 the second year. Goderich area trustee Michael Moriari- ty of RR 2; Bayfield said he thinks a French Immersion program is a 'positive' program. Costs and available grants were then in- troduced into the discussion. Mr. Marcy --said-the OP -per pupil cot oU st-a—rfahy. French Inunersion at St. Mary's still leaves that school's per pupil cost at $200 less than the systennaveragei-7.:, Then every triistee . say .abtint French Immersion. Not one said they were against French Immersion per se. "I'm .glad to see so much interest in Frencrq... but I'm not so sure this is the way te' o - to isolate one school and not look at lIje whole system," said trustee Er- nie Vanderschott of RR 7 St. Marys. Discuision then centered around in- creasin -the present Core French program in the a tern's 19 schools. "In . et, there are only three other boardsboarda'i the area that don't haVe French latmers n," said Mr. Moriarty. - the . re—Har-K—Perth ---a-titt-OXMI— - Boards Of Education. The HuronBoard of t ducation has also been approached by a •up:ofitisarents in Goderich to set iipl , French Immersion program.. The Perth Board of Education turned down ,a fiilot- French Immersion program for the City of With winter's end comes a dirty chore for Jack and Mary Stirling of the Bayfield Road. Living on a highway means that most of the shoulder gravel is tossed by the big snow plows to front lawns and the Stirlings are hard at work to transform their Parklane residence from a gravel pit to the well landscaped property again. They're even considering advertising gravel for sale, but Jack says they won't shovel and they won't deliver. (Shelley McPhee photo) • Stratford over a year ago. Mr. Moriarity said the way the separate school board should go is to introduce a pilot program in one school and see how it goes from there. Mr. Murray agreed. The discussion then got deeper into costs. Mr. Marcy pointed out the board would receive additional grants Of $211 per pupiltrom the Ministry of Education. Mount Carmel area trustee Michael Ryan said the cost is $104,000 over two "I'm very much in favor of French Im- • merilon, but I'd like to see French limner - skin foroiery said Mr. Ryan noting fie bad. to live with his cohscienoe When he made his decision. Trustee William Kinahan of RR 2 Lucknow said that now is an unfortunate timeAo be • considering a French Inuner- sion piogram. ``Five months is a short time to bring a new 'Program into the schools," said Mr. Kinahan notine-board administration is already short staffed due to the illness of Director of Education William Eckert. Trustee Vanderschott commented that statements that even with the addition of French Immersion at St. Mary's, it will • still be the fifth cheapest school to operate in the system, aren't fair. • "We can't help it if we have stria schools," said Mr. Vanderschott. He questioned Mr. Moriarity on whether or not he would put any programin the separate schools despite the cost. • "Within reason," responded Mr. Moriarity, "And this is within reason." He said he couldn't see French Immer- sion in eyerk school and said not every school would want French Iminersion. Comments were made regarding the equality of education in the Huron -Perth separate 'school board's jurisdiction, as some trustees said it isn't fair to offer French Immersion in one school and not others. Mr. Marcy said there isn't equality in the schools now as he noted that three of the five schools in Stratford don't have gyms. Dublin Trustee Louis Maloney said he would like to see his children have. the same educational opportunities as the students in other Huron -Perth com- munities. Wingham trustee Vincent McInnes sum- med the feelings of the board up. "At the outset I was all in favor of French Immersion, but I'm a pretty prac- tical person ... but when it gets down to basics, where is the moneygoing to come from? I don't know where," " Mr. McInnes said. Mr. Murray then criticized the survey taken on the number of students interested in French Immersion. The total number given was 33 for both kindergarten and Grade 1, but Mr. Murray said only the peo- ple interested in French Immersion were surveyed. Those who don't want it were not asked. He suggested the per pupil cost • Turn to page 2 Public meeting will study Clinton ONIP plan CLINTON - A public meeting will be held on April 16 at the municipal offices to discuss Clinton's proposed committee improvement policy. The report, which is required with Ontario Neighborhood Imptovement Program (ONIP) application, must be approved by the public before it is accepted as part of the town's official plan. The policy must outline the areas were Clinton's ONIP funds will be spend. ONIP, a popular financial aid program, has been used by hundreds of Ontario municipalities. Sponsored through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, it provides money to help develop and improve social and recreational services, or help finance municipal- capital works projects. The town could use ONIP funds to develop sidewalks, streets and lighting, and subsidized housing, for instance. Money could help finance social and recreational projects, such as the development of parks, recreational facilities and libraries. ONIP funds could also be spent on downtown core area nnprovements. Last year Clinton applied for a $60,000 ONIP allocation, however their request was turned down due to lack of funds. ONIP representatives hayed predicted that 1984 will be a better year for Clinton and ONIP. Last year the government program dealt with 109 applications and a record high of $12 was given out. ONIP rep Cathy Fox told council that 95 per cent of those municipalities who were turned down get fund allocations the second time around. She estimated that between $175,000 and $275,000 could be available for Clinton. ONIP, however, is not a free program and municipalities who.receive funds, must also make financial contributions. The application and area where the funds could best be used will be discussed at the public meeting and the committee improvement policy will be submitted with the ONIP application. Atlas submission • Council will ask a local historian to prepare a brief history of the town for the upcoming revised edition of the Huron County Historical Atlas. Most other municipalities in the county are making similar contributions and Clinton's section will include a photograph of council. 4 The Wammes family benefits from financial and medical support offered by the Clinton Lions Club and the Easter Seals Society. Seven-year-old Theresa Wammes, suffers from a physically disabling condition, Spina Bifida. She is one local child that receives help through such fund raising efforts as the upcoming Easter Seal telethon. The Clinton Lions Club is working on the fund raising drive locally and committee chairman Steve Fraser (sitting) will be heading the telethon efforts here. Easter Seals district nurse, Sonia Jackson (centre back) is helping to organize Huron County efforts. The Wammes family will be featured on the telethon on April 1. Included will be John and Katherine Wammes, their baby girl Chris, sou Brian and of course Theresa. (Shelley McPhee photo) Easter Seals help • ren i t e • neresa e --g By Shelley McPhee HULLETT TOWNSHIP - Seven year-old Theresa Wammes is pretty, intelligent, happy child. She enjoys school and likes horses. She's a good singer and dancer and giggles shyly when she's complimented. However this blonde, blue-eyed youngster is different than many of her friends. She is a physically disabled and was born with Spina Bifida. • Walking is an effort for Theresa and her legs pre steadied by rigid steel braces. Theresa also has learning difficulties and bladder problems. • According to Sonia Jackson; district nurse with the Easter Seal Societs, Spina Bifida is a congenital defect that occurs during conception. The spinal cord covering does not competely form and creates a sac on the back. Spinal tissue in the sac causes varying degrees of disfunction in the levol below the sac. Theresa Wammes was born on March 18, 1977 in Clinton Public Hospital. She was the first child for John and KatherineVamrnes of Hullett Township. Immediately after her birth, Theresa was rushed to St. Joesph's Hospital in London and when she was only two -days old .she underwent surgery to close the sac. Since. then Theresa's condition has remained stable and leg braces provide the best help. As she grows older her independence will increase, but her handicap will never leave her., While Theresa has avoided further surgery, the future remains uncertain and if her condition changes or worsens, surgery may' be required. Theresa attends special education classes .at St. Joseph's Separate -School ' in Clinton. She's. working at Grade 1 level and proudly boasts, "I got high marks in -my words." She can also count from one to 100, but will admit to "missing a couple.'A Theresa is a straight A pupil and is known as friendly and outgoing girl who makes. friends easily. . She's particularly close to her 5 -year old brother Brian and both keep a watchful eye on their baby sister Chris, 1 v2. ." Mrs. Wammes said that Brian wishes that he could player rough with his big sister, but understands her situation. She noted that many people take it for granted that their children can come and go, but in Theresa's case, Mother watches her daughter with a close eye "If I let Theresa, shed climb up a ladder to the roof. She's tried to," Mrs. Wammes laughed. Theresa has asked when she will get well and when she'll be able to walk without braces, but most of the time she's a content, happy child. She particularly feels a great sense of achievement and pride in her school work. Theresa was originally place in a Grade 1 class with 24 other students, but her grades were poor because she needed more individual attention. In January she was transferred to the special education class. With only six other students in the class Theresa is getting the special instruction she needed and her proud mother boasts, "her report card was fantastic." • The Wammes have • aimed to raise Theresa as they would their other children. Still kunly life at the Atammes' 'home is different from many. Financing Theresa's needs are costly 'and they've spend over • $2,700 on her braces and shoes. As well there • have been numerous trips to the London treatment centre for regular check-ups and brace fittings. Braces are replaced as Theresa grows, usually about once a year but Sonia noted that if a child has a growth spurt, they could be changed twice a year. Braces aren't recyclable and. used braces -can't be purchased. Sonia explained, "I used to think recycling would save money, but it is costly and time consuming to have the braces taken a art and refitted for the next child. We can't recyle braces, but we can ship them, overseas to underdeveloped countries." • Financial and. emotional burdens are made easier for :the Wammes fathily through the assistance of the Clinton Lions Club and the Easter Seal Society. Mr. Wammes noted, "Easter Seals have helped us a lot, mostly through the clinic. They prescribe what we need." Easter Seals have been serving Ontario's physically handicapped children since 1922. The organization was originally formed by service chips in southwestern Ontario to serve children with physical disabilities. Easter Seals now has 22 offices in Ontario, five summer camps and 36 district nurses. Sonia Jackson works with 66 physically disabled children in Huron County, including five in the Clinton area. Her organization offers financial and medical assistance to families arid children and Sonia will also be, involved in this weekend's CBC -TV Easter Seal Telethon, being aired on Channel 8, CKNX-TV from March 31 to April 1. "The telethon is a good medium of educationshegasplained. For the first time local Easter Seal support service clubs will also take part in the telethon and the Clinton Lions Club will be working in the round-the-clock fund raising effort. The Clinton Lions Club is eommitted to helping Easter Seal children and chairrnan Steve Fraser is excited about the response he's already received for the annual fund raising event. Last week alone, Clinton businesses donated $300 to the effort. Fund raising will continue this weekend at the telethon and the local telephone centre will be located at the Clinton Royal Bank. Theresa doesn't understand the entire concept of the telethon, but she does know what it means to have comfortable braces and the best treatment available. She also knows that she wants to be just like other children and through fund raising efforts, the Easter Seal Society and the Clinton Lions Club are attempting to make her life as easy as possible. Thema and her family will be featured on the Channel 8 telethon on Sunday, April 1, between 1 and 3 p.m.